Page 3 of Her Shadow

Oh, I get it. She’s the one in charge of this operation. The boss bitch.

“Go ahead and take a seat by the fire,” Sam suggested, taking Kara by the elbow and pulling her gently toward a smoldering pit that had been expertly dug into the ground. “Let me go grab some supplies.”

Kara sank to the ground, her aching legs folded beneath her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Sam disappear into one of the tents. She couldn’t help but note the way the woman moved so purposefully. She leaned forward, allowing thefire’s warmth to seep into her bones and chase away the chill that had settled over her since she’d been separated from her group. Since she’d lost her group. Since her group had been slaughtered.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she believed herself to besafe.

Kara stared at the fire, her thoughts a tangled mess as she tried to make sense of the events that had led her to this point. The fire crackled, releasing tendrils of smoke that curled into the night air. Kara caught a whiff of the burning wood. It stirred something distant in her mind, a forgotten fragment of her past. It wasn’t just the fire—it was the earth beneath her, rich and alive, the scent pulling her into memories of nights spent beneath the stars, back when survival was something she toyed with for fun. As her mind continued to grapple with her near-death experience and the shock of her unexpected rescue, she realized just how soothing the warmth of the fire was.

The sound of footsteps drew her attention. It was Sam returning with a small medical kit and a look of deep concern etched across her features. She sat down beside Kara, her movements careful and deliberate.

“I want to take another look at that shoulder,” Sam said, gingerly peeling away the tattered fabric to reveal the deep gash in Kara’s skin.

“It’s gone right down to the muscle. We’ll need to keep an eye on it for infection,” Sam continued, her hands steady as she cleaned the wound.

Kara flinched as Sam applied a liquid that stung her skin. “I didn’t expect to find anyone else in Campdale,” she admitted, her voice husky and weak. “I really thought I was done for.”

Sam’s dark and intense gaze met hers. “Yeah, well I guess we all have our stories.”

Kara couldn’t stop staring at Sam as she tidied up her supplies and neatly put them away in the bag. She had a striking presence with features that seemed to express strength and kindness at the same time. Kara guessed that the woman was at least a decade older than she was. She watched as she then pulled her blonde hair back and scraped it into a ponytail. Kara couldn’t help but see the older woman as someone who was not only reassuring but intriguing, too.

This one knows what she’s doing.

“Thank you, by the way,” Kara said, forcing her voice above a whisper. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. It’s not often you find kindness from strangers.”

Sam looked up, a flicker of a smile appearing on her plump lips. “We’re all supposed to be out here helping each other out. Who else have we got? That’s what this is all about now.”

Kara lowered her head and murmured under her breath. “You’re so right. But not everyone’s like you.” She could sense that Sam was more than just someone leading a group of survivors. There was a hidden strength that drew Kara in. This woman was a natural protector.

“So? What were you doing around here, anyway?” Sam asked, breaking the silence that had started to settle between them, but which had felt comfortable to Kara.

“It was just a standard, everyday mission,” Kara explained. “Can you believe Campdale was my hometown? Well, my mom’s. I know the place like the back of my hand. Well, I did. It’s barely recognizable these days.”

“Nothing’s recognizable. Nothing,” Sam interrupted with sadness in her voice.

“We were supposed to gather medical supplies. The hospital’s empty, but we’ve been trying the houses and apartments, making our way through them methodically, you know? Sometimes we hit the jackpot. But… we were ambushed.I think there were around half a dozen zombies. I got separated from everyone. The rest didn’t make it. Or at least, I’m pretty sure they didn’t make it.”

Sam’s expression softened with sympathy. “I’m so sorry. Losing people you care about is never easy.”

Kara’s heart ached at the memory of what had happened to her gang. “I can’t even deal with it right now. I need to, I don’t know, maybe eat something, get my strength up, and find a way back to my community.

“Where are you at? Fort Haven? Is that it? You look like one of them. Or is it that place farther north?” Sam asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ve heard of these places. There’s one up near Brackendale, too.”

“We’re from Fort Haven, yeah,” Kara answered.

“I see. It’s a stronghold, right?” Sam asked. “One of the best places around here, I heard. You guys have got your shit together.”

“Yes,” Kara replied, surprised. “How did you know about it?”

“We’ve crossed paths with other survivors and heard rumors on our travels. We’ve been through a vast area…and you tend to gather information as you go along. We’ve got a pretty good network of people. We may be able to help you get back to Fort Haven. It’s not that far, right? I can’t promise anything, but I’m sure someone can help.”

Kara’s eyes widened with hope. “You would do that? Really? It’s a good eighty miles from here and over rough terrain. We could give you whatever we have that’s helpful in return, or maybe you’d need some shelter with us. Whatever you need, I'll make it happen.”

“If it’s safe and we’re able to,” Sam said with a nod. “But first, you need to recover. You’re in no shape to travel as things stand. And we may be moving on as soon as tomorrow.”

Kara looked around at the nomads’ camp. She was surrounded by people she didn’t know, yet these people were willing to have her stay with them, no questions asked. It seemed too good to be true.

“So, what’s your story, Sam?” Kara asked, curiosity getting the better of her. “I get the impression you’re the leader here?”

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